τί με...διεμπολᾷ … πρός σε; what bargain is he making with thee concerning me? From the words “ἀλλὰ” “τόνδε” in 573 onwards, the pretended “ἔμπορος” has spoken to N. in lower tones; while N. has taken care to pronounce v. 575 loud enough for Ph. to hear. The object of this by-play is to quicken Ph. 's interest in the coming story (603 ff.), and his anxiety to leave Lemnos. Seyffert's change of τί με into τί δὲ is no improvement. It is natural that Ph. , the “ἀνὴρ ὑπόπτης” (136), should suspect some design against himself. The “ἔμπορος” had suddenly assumed an air of mystery; and, on learning Ph. 's name, had urged N. to save himself (“σεαυτὸν συλλαβών”). The “διά” in διεμπολᾷ expresses traffic: cp. fr. 521. 7 (a woman bewailing the lot of her sex), “ὠθούμεθ᾽ ἔξω καὶ διεμπολώμεθα” (as by a bargain between suitor and parents). —Cp. 978: Ant. 1036.
This text is part of:
Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, with critical notes, commentary, and translation in English prose. Part IV: The Philoctetes. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1932.
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